Bag and closure therefor



Oct 9, 1955 c. M. PHIPPS ET AL 2,765,974 I BAG AND CLOSURE THEREFOR Filed Aug. 12, 1953 2 Shets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TORS COP/VEL /U5 M PH/PPS DOA A L 0 1?. Z IMME PMA N BY u ATTORNEYS BAG AND CLOSURE THEREFOR Cornelius M. Phipps, Neenah, Wis, and Donald R. Zimmerman, Wheaton, 111., assignors to h'iaradton Corporation, Rothschild, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 12, 1953, Serial No. 373,752 10 Unitas. (Cl. 229-62) This patent application is a continuation-in-part of our application Serial No. 302,691, now abandoned, filed August 5, 1952, for Bag Closure.

This invention relates to improvements in sealed bags and to new and useful improvements in devices for protecting and sealing the opening in packages, particularly bags, and for facilitating the opening of and the accessibility of the contents contained in such packages. More particularly, it pertains to a device to be associated with the open ends of bags for facilitating the easy opening and dispensing of the contents thereof.

In bags of this sort, especially when made of paper or transparent material such as cellophane, there is a marked tendency of the bag material to split or tear along the edges at the open end of the bag. In the case of cellophane bags, this tendency becomes more serious with increasing age of the bag, for this material tends to become brittle with dryness and age. It is therefore highly desirable to have a means for facilitating the opening of these bags, and where possible to reinforce the open end.

Further, it is frequently difficult to pour from an opened end of these bags 21 fine grained homogeneous contained product such as flour or sugar. A substantial marketing advantage may be obtained from having associated with such an open end a device whereby the pouring out of such a product is facilitated.

Also, with many products it is essential that the bag be substantially sealed to prevent the passage of air into and out of the bag. This invention readily provides means for achieving this air-tight closure.

This invention provides these features and advantages, and in addition other advantages and features which will be readily apparent from the drawings and the following description thereof, in which the same reference numeral is used to identify the same of similar parts.

Figure 1 is a plan view of our bag closure,

Figure 2 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a type of bag particularly adapted to be closed by our closure,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bag closure of Figure 1 in set up position,

Figure 4 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the bag closure applied to the bag of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, somewhat exaggerated to-show certain details,

Figure 6 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the bag and closure of Figure 4 in the finally-assembled condition,

Figure 7 is a perspective view similar to Figure 6, but with the bag in a partially open position,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the bag and closure of Figure 7, with the bag mouth open for pouring out of the contained product, and

Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 99 of Figure 6, with the vertical di- 2,765,974 Patented Oct. 9, 1956 men sion exaggerated to show certain details of the invention.

Referring first to Figure 1, it is seen that the bag closure comprises a paper blank 10 divided by score lines into a number of panels. Blank 10 preferably is made of relatively thin flexible paper, although obviously other flexible sheet materials such as foil or cellophane might be satisfactorily substituted. Blank 10 is divided by score lines 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 into outer panels 16 and 17, inner panels 18 and 19, and tabs 20 and 21 hingedly connected to the side edges of panel 17. A portion 22 of inner panel 18 is separated from the rest of that panel by perforation line 23, and the portions 24 and 25 of score lines 12 and 11 which bound panel portion 22 are also perforated. The bottom surface (Fi ure 1) of blank 10 is preferably coated with a heatand/or pressure-sensitive adhesive 35 (see Figure 5) such as disclosed in Abrams et al. Patent 2,054,115, September 15, 1936, and/ or a pressure sensitive composition, such as disclosed in Abrams et al. Patent 2,142,039., December 27, 1938. While perforations 23, 24 and 25 provide lines of weakness, during the process of sealing the closure to the bag the perforations will be filled with the adhesive substance, so that leak-proofness of the closure will not be lost.

Figure 2 illustrates a bag of the bellows or intuck type which is particularly adapted to be closed by the closure of Figure 1. This type of bag has very wide use in the packaging of flour, raisins, coffee, dried vegetables and many other articles. Adjacent its open upper end this bag is composed of main panels 26 and 27 and bellows panels 28, 29, 3t) and 31. Bellows fold lines 32 and 33 separate the pairs of bellows panels 28, 29 and 30, 31 respectively.

Blank 10 is readied for insertion into the bag illustrated in Figure 2 by folding panels 19 and 17 upward into face-to-face relationship with panels 18 and 16, about score line 12, and then folding panels 16 and 17 downward into face-to-face relationship with panels 18 and 19 respectively. This is illustrated in Figure 3. The blank is then inserted into the open end of the bag in such a manner that the adhesive surface of panel 18 will be in face-to-face relationship with the inside surfaces of one or the other of the pairs 28-30 or 2931 of the bellows panels. That is, the folded blank 10 is inserted into the open end of the bag so that panels 18 and 19 will lie to the side of reference line 34 (Figure 2) which permits the under adhesive surface of panel 18 to lie in face-to-face contact with either bellows panels 283tl or bellows panels 29-31, and simultaneously permits the under adhesive surface of panel 19 to lie in face-to-face contact with main panel 26 or main panel 27, respectively. In Figures 4 to 9, panel 18 (and portion 22 thereof) is in face-to-face relationship with bellows panels 283tl and the mid-portion of main panel 27, and panel 19 in face-to-face relationship with the inside of main panel 26.

After inserting the closure blank 10 into the mouth of the filled bag, heat and/or pressure is applied to seal the closure in place, as seen in Figures 4 and 5. The

now-closed bag mouth is then laid over onto the bagend with panel 16 immediately overlying the upper folded portion of main bag panel 27, and the tabs 20 and 21 are sealed to the sides of the bag. A neat, clean closure is thus provided, as shown in Figure 6.

Since the heatand/or pressure-sensitive adhesive is on what is now the inner face of panels 16, 17, 18 and 19, these panels will be firmly adhered within the bag; panel 19 being adhered to the inner face of main panel 26 and panel 13 being adhered to bellows panels 28 and 30 and the mid-portion of main panel 27; and panels 16 and 17 being adhered to the outer surfaces of panels 26 and 27 respectively. If the width of blank is substantially equal to the width of the main panels 26 and 27, the closure thus formed will be substantially air tight and leakproof. The forming of this air tight closure is facilitated by natural extrusion of the adhesive into the corners of the bag along the edges of panels 13 and 19 when the heat and/or pressure is applied to adhere the bag closure to the bag. If this leakproof quality is not essential, the adhesive may be eliminated from one of panels 18, 19.

Referring particularly to Figures 6, 7 and 9, it will be seen that the closed bag mouth is folded over and adhered flat against the bag end in such a manner that inner panels 18 and 19 are adhered between that pair 28-490 of bellows panels and main bag panel 26 which in the folding over are not united by a reverse fold. Consequently, any tendency of leakage of the contained product between panels 28-30 and 26 as at A (Figure 9) is eliminated by means of the effectively airtight adhesive bond therebetween provided by adhesive closure panels 18 and 19. On the other hand, any potential leakage between bellows panels 29-31 and bag panel 27, as at B, is barred by the substantially airtight closure provided by the reverse bend at C which bonds these panels in close union.

Referring particularly to Figures 5, 7 and 9, it will be seen that our closure effectively integrates bellows panels 28, 29, 30 and 31 with main bag panels 26 and 27 when the bag is sealed. Consequently, even a considerable internal pressure within the bag in the condition shown in either Figure 4 or Figure 6 will not force the bellows panels 28, 29, 30 or 31 outwardly to a position as shown in Figure 8, which would inadvertently spill the packaged product. Thus, an additional valuable feature is provided by our closure, resulting in maintenance of the seal and of the appearance and quality of the package, even in the face of considerable internal pressure due to overfilling or rough handling of the package.

To open the bag, tabs 20 and 21 may be torn loose from the sides of the bag, or they may be severed as shown in Figures 7 and 8. The bag mouth may then be raised and the perforation lines 23, 24 and 25 broken with the fingernail or otherwise. The bellows panels, panels and 31 in Figures 7 and 8, may then be pulled outwardly to form a pour spout as illustrated in Figure 8. Thus, in a few simple operations, a sealed bag closure is transformed into an easy-pour spout for the same bag. It the contents are not entirely used initially, the bellows folds may be folded inwardly again and the bag opening folded over to provide a satisfactory closure.

It will be obvious that the bag and closure described herein might be constructed of various flexible materials such as paper, cellophane, polyethylene, rubber hydrochloride, metal foil and the like, and for the adhesive means described there might be substituted water-activated glues or other available means of adherence. \Vhile only one embodiment of the invention has been described it is to be understood that the invention is to be limited only as defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. In combination, an article-containing bag and a closure therefor, the bag having a pair of opposite main panels and a pair of inwardly-folded bellows panels connecting the side edges of said main panels to form the side walls of the bag, the closure comprising a flexible blank divided by score lines into a pair of inner panels, a pair of outer panels, and a pair of tabs each connected to a side edge of one of said outer panels, a lateral portion of one of said inner panels being defined by perforations, the blank having an adhesive on one surface thereof, the inner panels being folded to have their adherent-free surfaces in face-to-face relation, the inner panels lying and adhered within the open mouth of the bag with the adherent surface of the other of said inner panels in face-to-face adhering relation with one of said main bag panels and the adherent surface of said one inner panel in face-to-face adhering relation with the inner surface of the bellows panels connected to said one main panel of the bag, the outer panels being folded to overlie the main panels of the bag with their adherent surfaces in face-to-face adhering relation therewith adjacent the mouth of the bag, the closure being adhered to close the mouth of the bag, the thus-closed bag mouth being laid over flat against the bag end with the outer surface of" the outer panel to which said one inner panel is connected in face-to-face relation with the adjacent main panel of the bag, and said tabs being adhered to the sides of the bag to retain the thus-closed bag mouth in flat relationship with the bag.

2. In combination an article-containing bag and a closure therefor, the bag having a pair of opposite main panels and a pair of inwardly-folded bellows panels connecting the side edges of said main panels to form the side walls of the bag, the bag closure comprising a flexible blank divided by score lines into a pair of inner panels and a pair of outer panels, a lateral portion of one of said inner panels being defined by perforations, the blank having an adhesive on one surface thereof, the inner panels being folded to have their adherent-free surfaces in face-to-face relation, and lying and adhered within the open mouth of the bag with the adherent surface of the other of said inner panels in face-to-face adhering relation with one of said main bag panels and the adherent surface of said one inner panel in face-to-face adhering relation with the inner surface of the bellows panels connected to said one main panel of the bag, the outer panels being folded to overlie the main panels of the bag with their adherent surfaces in face-to-face adhering relation therewith adjacent the mouth of the bag, the thus-closed bag mouth being laid over fiat against the bag end with the outer surface of the outer panel to which said one inner panel is connected in face-to-face relation with the adjacent main panel of the bag, and the closure being adhered to close the mouth of the bag.

3. In combination an article-containing bag and a dlosure therefor, the bag having a pair of opposite main panels, and a pair of inwardly-folded bellows panels connecting each of the side edges of one of said main panels to the opposite side edge of the other main panel to form the side walls of the bag, the bag closure comprising a flexible blank divided by score lines into a pair of inner panels and a pair of outer panels, a lateral portion of one of said inner panels being defined by perforations, the blank having an adhesive 'on one surface thereof, the inner panels folded to have their adherent-free surfaces in face-to-face relation, and lying and adhered Within,

the open mouth of the bag with the adherent surface of the other of said inner panels in face-to-face adhering relation with one of said main bag panels and the adherent surface of said one inner panel in face-to-face adhering relation with the inner surface of the bellows panels connected to said one main panel of the bag, the outer panels being folded to overlie the main panels of the bag with their adherent surfaces in face-to-face adhering relation therewith adjacent the mouth of the bag and the closure being adhered to close the mouth of the bag, the bag being openable by severing said perforations defining the lateral portion of said one inner panel, whereby the bellows panel to which said lateral portion is adhered and the bellows panel connected thereto will be free to extend outwardly to form a pour spout.

4. In combination an article-containing bag and a closure therefor, the bag having a pair of main panels, and a pair of inwardly-folded bellows panels connecting each of the side edges of one of said main panels to the opposite side edge of the other main panel to form the side walls of the bag, the bag closure comprising a thin, flexible paper blank having an adhesive on its under surface and divided by transverse score lines into seesaw a pair of adjacent inner panels and a pair of outer panels each hingedly connected to one of said inner panels, and further scored to provide a pair of tabs each hingedly connected to a side edge of one of said outer panels, a lateral portion of that one of said inner panels which is connected to the other of said outer panels being defined by perforations, said lateral portion being of dimension transverse of the blank equal to the width of one of said bellows panels, said inner panels lying and adhered within the open mouth of the bag with the adherent surface of said lateral portion of said one inner panel in face-to-face adhering relation with the inner surface of said one bellows panel and the adherent surface of the other inner panel in face-to-face adhering relation with the main panel of the bag to which said one bellows panel is hingedly connected, the outer panels being folded to overlie and adhered to the outer surface of the main panels of the bag, the thus-closed bag mouth being laid over flat against the bag end with the outer surface of the outer panel to which said one inner panel is connected in face-to-face relation with the adjacent main panel of the bag, and said tabs being i t adhered to the sides of the bag to retain the thus-closed bag mouth in flat relationship with the bag, the bag being openable by severing said tabs and the perforations defining the lateral portion of said one inner panel, whereby said one bellows panel and the bellows panel connected thereto will be free to extend outwardly to form a pour spout.

5. An article-containing bag and closure according to claim 4, wherein the adhesive on the under surface of said blank is heat-activable.

6. In combination, a container and a closure for an end thereof, the container having a pair of opposite main panels and a pair of inwardly-folded bellows panels connecting the side edges of said main panels to form the side walls of the container, the closure comprising a flexible blank divided by score lines into a pair of inner panels, a pair of outer panels, and a pair of tabs each connected to a side edge of one of said outer panels, a lateral portion of one of said inner panels being defined by perforations, the blank having an adhesive on one surface thereof, the inner panels being folded to have their adherent-free surfaces in face-to-face relation, the inner panels lying and adhered within the open end of the container with the adherent surface of the other of said inner panels in face-to-face adhering relation with one of said main container panels and the adherent surface of said one inner panel in face-to-face adhering relation with the inner surface of the bellows panels connected to said one main panel of the container, the outer panels being folded to overlie the main panels of the container with their adherent surfaces in face-to-face adhering relation therewith adjacent the end of the container, the closure being adhered to close the end of the container, the thus-closed container end being laid over flat against the container with the outer surface of the outer panel to which said one inner panel is connected in face-to-face relation with the adjacent main panel of the container, and said tabs being adhered to the sides of the container to retain the thus-closed container end in flat relationship with the container.

7. In combination a container and a closure for an end thereof, the container having a pair of opposite main panels and a pair of inwardly-folded bellows panels connecting the side edges of said main panels to form the side walls of the container, the container closure comprising a flexible blank divided by score lines into a pair of inner panels and a pair of outer panels, a lateral portion of one of said inner panels being defined by perforations, the blank having an adhesive on one surface thereof, the inner panels being folded to have their adherent-free surfaces in face-to-face relation, and lying and adhered within the open end of the container with the adherent surface of the other of said inner panels in face-to-face adhering relation with one of said rnaincontainer panels and the adherent surface of said one inner panel to face-to-face adhering relation with the inner surface of the bellows panels connected to said one main panel of the container, the outer panels being folded to overlie the main panels IOf the container with their adherent surfaces in face-to-face adhering relation therewith adjacent the end of the container, the thus-closed container end being laid over flat against the container with the outer surface of the outer panel to which said one inner panel is connected in face-to-face relation with the adjacent main panel of the container, and the closure being adhered to close the end of the container.

8. In combination a container and a closure for an end thereof, the container having a pair of opposite main panels, and a pair of inwardly-folded bellows panels connecting each of the side edges of one of said main panels to the opposite side edge of the other main panel to form the side walls of the container, the container closure comprising a flexible blank divided by score lines into a pair of inner panels and a pair of outer panels, a lateral portion of one of said inner panels being defined by perforations, the blank having an adhesive on one surface thereof, the inner panels folded to have their adherent-free surfaces in face-to-face relation, and lying and adhered within the open end of the container with the adherent surface of the other of said inner panels in face-to-face adhering relation with one of said main container panels and the adherent surface of said one inner panel in face-toface adhering relation with the inner surface of the bellows panels connected to said one main panel of the container, the outer panels being folded to overlie the main panels of the container with their adherent surfaces in face-toface adhering relation therewith adjacent the end of the container and the closure being adhered to close the end of the container, the container being openable by severing said perforations defining the lateral portion of said one inner panel, whereby the bellows panel to which said lateral portion is adhered and the bellows panel connected thereto will be free to extend outwardly to form a pour spout.

9. In combination a container and a closure for an end thereof, the container having a pair of main panels, and a pair of inwardly-folded bellows panels connecting each of the side edges of one of said main panels to the opposite side edge of the other main panel to form the side walls of the container, the container closure comprising a thin, flexible paper blank having an adhesive on its under surface and divided by transverse score lines into a pair of adjacent inner panels and a pair of outer panels each hingedly connected to one of said inner panels, and further scored to provide a pair of tabs each hingedly connected to a side edge of one of said outer panels, a lateral portion of that one of said inner panels which is connected to the other of said panels being defined by perforations, said lateral portion being of dimension transverse of the blank equal to the width of one of said bellows panels, said inner panels lying and adhered within the open end of the container with the adherent surface of said lateral portion of said one inner panel in faceto-face adhering relation with the inner surface of said one bellows panel and the adherent surface of the other inner panel in face-to-face adhering relation with the main panel of the container to which said one bellows panel is hingedly connected, the outer panels being folded to overlie and adhere to the outer surface of the main panels of the container, the thus-closed container end being laid over flat against the container with the outer surface of the outer panel to which said one inner panel is connected in face-to-face relation with the adjacent main panel of the container, and said tabs being adhered to the sides of the container to retain the thus-closed container end in flat relationship with the container, the container being openable by severing said tabs and the perforations defining the lateral portion of said one inner panel, where- 7 8 by said one bellows panel and the bellows panel con- 2,197,490 Williams et al. Apr. 16, 1940 nected thereto will be free to extend outwardly to form 21 2,373,744 Coghill Apr. 17, 1945 pour spout. 2,721,023 Phipps Oct. 18, 1955 10. A container and closure according to claim 9,

wherein the adhesive on the under surface of said blank 5 FOREIGN PATENTS is heat activab1e 320,289 Great Britain Oct. 10, 1929 511,103 Germany Oct. 25, 1930 References Cited in the file of this patent 123,671 Austria July 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTS 

